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Abstract
Since 1991, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER) of Mozambique,
through the Agricultural Market Information System (SIMA) has collected, processed and
disseminated weekly information regarding prices of basic commodities at different market
transaction levels. This information has been used by different actors in the market, including
producers, traders, NGOs, consultants, and policy makers. SIMA has made efforts to serve multiple
users, from the private and public sectors, using a variety of means of communication, thereby
contributing to the development of agricultural markets. However, in a time of budget constraints,
there is one important question: What is the value of investing in public market information as
is currently done in Mozambique? This is discussed in this paper.